Steam-engine.



c. A. JOHNSON.

STEAM ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1911.

Patented June 4, 191,2.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNFY WITNESSES.-

0. A. JQHNsON.

I STEAM ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1911.

1,028,466. v I Patented June 4, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wz'rN sg s; jlvgsccroa @2104 W W BY ATTORNEY.

0, A. JOHNSON. STEAM ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 17, 1911.

' Patented June 4, 1912.

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CHARLES A. JOHNSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJune 4., 1912.

Application filed May 17, 1911. Serial No. 627,807.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLns A. JOHN- SON, a subject of King Gustav II of Sweden, but residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engines, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others versed inthe art to which it appertains to make and use my said invention.

My improvements relate to steam engines, and have for their objects: 1st. To generate a given amount of power by the consumption of less steam than has heretofore been required. 2nd. To provide a means of securing one complete turn of the revolving shaft by a single opening of the cylinder valves. 3rd. To provide a longer cylinder and in less space than is ordinarily in use. 41th. To provide by a regulating cam wheel and leverage arm an improved method of opening and closing the cylinder valve. 5th. By the use of a series of cylinders to dispense with the fly wheel, and thus save the corresponding space and weight. 6th. To provide an improved means of re versing the power so as to operate the revolving shaft at will in either direction. And to provide other advantages and results, some of which may be hereinafter referred to in connection with the description of the working parts.

I attain the objects of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawings in which Sheet 1, Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved engine, looking from the front. Sheet 2, Fig. 2, is a perspective view of my engine looking from the rear. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing, more particularly, the cylinder-valves and shut-off valves and their operative mechanism; Fig. 4c is a detached detail perspective view of one of the cylinders (one of the detachable side plates thereof being removed to exhibit the interior), showing the piston and cylindervalve in one position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the reversing-valves and part of the cylinder-walls, through which said valves work, said walls being shown in section, and said valves being shown in one position; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5, looking downward in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the reversingvalves moved into reversing-position; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 8-8, Fig. 7, looking downward in the direction of the arrow; and Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of one of the cylinders (one of the detachable side plates thereof being removed to exhibit the interior), showing the pistons moving in reverse directions, Fig. 9 being correlated with Figs. 5 and 6 and Fig. 10 with Figs. 7 and 8. Referring, now, in detail to the drawmgs: My mechanism may be mounted upon any suitable sup-port, as a bed-plate 1.

Mounted in suitable bearings, as 2, 2, at the top of standards 3, 3, is the engine-shaft D, passing through the axes of revoluble disks 4:- fast thereon, and having, each, a finger or lobe Q; each of said disks 4,.with its finger Q, constituting a piston to drive the shaft D. Each of said disks 4t revolves in a cylinder 5, the side walls A, A, of which may be removable, as shown. Also fast on the shaft I), and preferably disposed one between each cylinder 5, are cam-wheels C, each having an endless groove H in its side,

near the tread portion of the wheel and following thecircumferential contour thereof, E designating the cam portion of said grooves, one of said cam-portions being on each wheel and the cam-portion of one wheel being at a diametrically opposite point to 3 that of the next wheel, as shown in the drawing.

Pivotally mounted at their lower ends, as in bearings G, G carried by castings G, G

secured to the bed-plate 1, are rocker-arms v v or levers F, one for each cam-wheel C, the

upper ends of said rockers being bent at g to engage and follow the cam-groove H, as shown.

Intermediate the length of each rocker, a a v horizontal rock-shaft I is pivoted, as at 2', the other end of said shaft being pivoted, as at 3 to the intermediate upright arm j of another rocker J, having a horizontal foot 7' pivoted in bearings in a casting j seing a horizontal arm 7' extending from the top end of the upright port-ion j, and, also, an upward-extending arm f pivoted. to one cured to the bed-plate 1, said rocker J havi end of links j, the other end of which is pivoted to the handle 70 of cylinder-valves K working through the steam-chest 6 and into the cylinder 5, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3 et seq.

Carried toward one end of the shaft D is a gear L, meshing with a similar gearL fast on the end of a shaft L rotatably sup ported in bearings Z, Z at the top of a standard Z secured to the bed-plate Z. Fast on the other end of said shaft L is one end of a crank pivoted, at its other end, to one end of a link 1*, pivoted at its other end to one end of an elongated bar 0 provided in the region of the steam-chest 6 with elongated slots 0, 0 disposed in the bar relative to the steam-inlet ports P in said steam-chest 6, so that (see Fig. 3) when one of the valves K has been moved fully into closed position (as shown at the right in Fig. 3), the slot 0 will be in register with the port P in said steam-chest, and the other slot 0 will be out of register with the port P in the other steam-chest (or that to the left in Fig. 3). It will thus be seen that, when a cylindervalve K is pulled out, the steam is cut oif from the corresponding steam-chest 6, and is turned on as soon as the valve K is pushed. in or closed. The bar 0 thus constitutes the steam-inlet and cut-oif valve.

The steam-inlet port P (which is disposed above the valve K) extends in a straight line through the steam-chest 6 (Fig. 3 shows one end of said port and Fig. 4 the other end), but has a branch 1 (see Figs. 5, 7, 9 and 10) that diverges andextends in an upward di rection from the inner end of the port P (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9) and communicates with a vertical port .2 (see Figs. 5 and 7) in the steam-chest 6.

The exhaust-port in the steam-chest 6 is disposed beneath the valve K, and comprises two sections, R and R, each extending half way through the steam-chest, as shown in Fig. 6, and adapted to be placed in communication with each other by a valve about to be described.

The reverse-valves are indicated at S and T, and comprise two cylindrical members, as shown. Two of such valves are provided for each steam-chest 6, and the said valves of each steam-chest are suitably coupled together, as by links s, t,so that all of said valves are moved in unison. Each of the valves S is formed about centrally of the length thereof with a transverse port 0; extending horizontally therethrough (see Fig. 5), which, in the normal position of the valve S, is in register with the port P in the stean1chest 6 and with one of the branches 6 of the steam-inlet pipe B (Fig. 1). Said valve S is also formed, adjacent the port 00 and to one side thereof, with a transverse port 00 extending vertically, or at rightangles to the port w, and adapted, upon movement of the valve S, to be brought into register with the port 2 in the steam-chest 6. On the other side of the port 00, the valve S is also provided exteriorly with a longitudinally extending, spiral groove x adapted, when the valve S is moved and the inlet of steam to the interior of the cylinder 5 is, thus, intercepted at a point half way through the port P, to receive the steam and to direct it into a vertical port w with which said 'spiralgroove 00 communicates when the valve S has been moved, as shown in Fig. 7. 7

The valve T is similarly formed, in some respects, to the valve S, but differs somewhat therefrom, in respect to its ports and the manner of disposition thereof. The valve T is provided (see Fig. 6) with a transverse port t extending horizontally part way through the valve T and adapted, in the normal position of the valve T, to register with the steam-exhaust port R in the steam-chest 6. Said port 6 is formed with a longitudinallyeextending branch 25 intersected by a transverse port i extending entirely through the valve T. A vertical hole It is drilled in the top of said valve, whereby, in the position of the valve '1 in Fig. 7, ports i and z are in communication through said hole ti. Said branch 6 terminates in a bent end 25 adapted, in the normal position of the valve T, to register with the section R of the steam-exhaust port in the steam-chest 6. Thus, in the normal position of the valve, the exhaust is, from the interior of the cylinder 5, through the steam-exhaust port R, through the port t, branches t t and through the port T to the steamexhaust pipe (not shown). The valve T is also provided exteriorly with a longitudinally-extending, spiral groove i which, in the normal position of the valve T (that is, before reversal thereof) is inoperative; but, when the valve T has been moved, to reverse, said spiral groove communicates, at one end thereof, with vertical port 90* and, at the other end thereof, with the port R (as shown in Fig. 7). In this position of reversal, therefore, the passage of live steam to the interior of the cylinder port P, half way through port P to the spiral groove m thence along said spiral groove to the port w, through port 00 to the spiral groove 25 through groove 6 to the port R, and through port R to the interior of the cylinder 5. Simultaneously, exhaust passes from the interior of the cylinder 5 into the port P, and through the branch 3 thereof to the port 2, through port 2 (and through port 00 through port 25 through port R, to an exhaust-pipe (not shown).

By the combination of two or more of my improved cylinders, it will be seen that there cannot be what is known as a dead center, for the reason that, when the valve K is open in one cylinder, the piston in the adjoining cylinder will be on the reverse side of the shaft D and exerting its full power, thus carrying the shaft D and piston past the valve K and steam inlet to a point where the steam is again turned on by operation of the crank M and sliding bar 0.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders, pistons working in said cylinders, a shaft upon which said pistons are mounted, each of said pistons having a lobe extending radially from said pistons, a valve for each cylinder, said valve being movable into and out of the path of movement of said lobe, cam-wheels carried by said shaft, each of said wheels having a cam-groove, a rocker for each camwheel having one end thereof engaging with and traveling in said groove, a rock-shaft pivoted at one end to said rocker, and a rocker for each of said valves and secured to the other end of said rock-shaft.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders, pistons working in said cylinders, a shaft upon which said pistons are mounted, each of said pistons having a lobe extending radially from said pistons, a valve for each cylinder, said valve being movable into and out of the path of movement of said lobe, cam-wheels carried by said shaft, each of said wheels having a cam-groove, the cam portion of each wheel in the series being diametrically oppositely disposed to the cam-port-ion in the next wheel, a rocker for each cam-wheel having one end thereof engaging with and traveling in said groove, a rocker for each of said valves, and a rock-shaft connecting each cam-wheel rocker with its corresponding valve-rocker.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders having steaminlet openings, of a steam-cut-off valve, comprising a slidable bar common to all cylinders and having openings therethrough arranged relative to the said steam-inlet ports whereby when one of said openings is in register with the corresponding port of one of the cylinders, the nextsucceeding opening is out of register with the corresponding port in the next succeeding cylinder and passage of steam through the latter port is cut off.

4:. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders having steaminlet openings and with a shaft upon which said cylinders are carried, of a steam-cut-off valve comprising a slidable bar common to all cylinders and having openings there through arranged relative to the said steaminlet ports whereby when one of said openings is in register with the corresponding port of one of the cylinders, the next succeeding opening is out of register with the corresponding port in the next succeeding cylinder and passage of steam through the operable by latter port is cut off, and means,

said

said cylinder-shaft, for actuating steam-cut-off valve.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders having steaminlet openings and with a shaft upon which said cylinders are carried, of a steam-cut-off valve comprising a slidable bar common to all cylinders and having openings therethrough arranged relative to the said steaminlet ports whereby when one of said openings is in register with the corresponding port of one of the cylinders, the next succeeding opening is out of register with the corresponding port in the next succeeding cylinder and passzpfge of steam through the latter port is cut 0 and means, operable by said cylinder-shaft, and including intermeshing gears, for actuating said steam-cutoff valve.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders having steaminlet openings and with a shaft upon which said cylinders are carried, of a steam-cu't-off valve comprising a slidable bar common to all cylinders and having openings therethrough arranged relative to the said steaminlet ports whereby, when one of said openings is in register with the corresponding port of one of the cylinders, the next succeeding opening is out of register with the corresponding port in the next succeeding cylinder and passage of steam through the latter port is cut oil, a gear carried by said shaft, a corresponding gear meshing with said first gear, a shaft upon which said second gear is carried, and operative connections between said second gear-shaft and said cut-ofl' valve for actuating the latter.

7 In a rotary engine, the combination with a plurality of cylinders having steaminlet openings and with a shaft upon which said cylinders are carried, of a steamcut-off valve comprising a slidable bar common to all cylinders and having openings therethrough arranged relative to the said steaminlet ports whereby, when one of said openings is in register with the corresponding port of one of the cylinders, the next succeeding opening is out of register with the corresponding port in the next succeeding cylinder and passage of steam through the latter port is cut off, a gear carried by said shaft, a corresponding gear meshing with said first gear, a shaft upon which said second gear is carried, a crank fast on said second gear-shaft, and a link pivoted to said crank and to said steain-cut-ofi' valve.

8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a steam-chest carried by said cylinder and having a steam-inlet port and an exhaust port therethrough, and a reversing-valve comprising two cylindrical members simultaneously slidable in said steam-chest, one of said members having a &

transverse port therethrough registering with said steam-inlet port in the normal position of the valve; and the other member having a port registering with said exhaust port in the normal position of the valve, said port having a portion thereof extending longitudinally interiorly of said member.

9. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a piston working therein, a steam-chest carried by said cylinder and having a steam-inlet port and an exhaust-port therethrough, and a reversing-valve comprising two cylindrical members simultaneously slidable in said steam-chest, one of said members having a transverse port therethrough registering with said steam-inlet port in the normal position of the valve, and also having a longitudinally-extending, spiral groove; and the other member having a port'registering with said exhaust-port in the normal position of the valve, said port having a portion thereof extending longitudinally interiorly of said member, and said other member having a corresponding longitudinally-extending spiral groove; said steam-chest having an interior vertical port in the region of said spiral grooves; one of said members, upon movement, closing passage of entering steam to the cylinderthrough said steam-inlet port in the steam-chest, and bringing its said spiral groove into communication with said steam-inlet port and with said vertical port; the other of said valve-members, upon movement, bringing its said spiral groove into communication with said vertical port and with said steamexhaust port; whereby passage of entering steam is partly through said steam-inlet port in the steam-chest, thence into and throught said spiral groove in one valvemember, thence into and through said vertical port in the steam-chest, thence into and through said spiral groove in the other valve-member, and into and through said exhaust port in the steam-chest, to said cylinder. r

10. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a pis- 7 ton working therein, a steam-chest carried by said cylinder and having a steam-inlet port and an exhaust port therethrough, said steam-inlet port having a branch, said steam-chest also having an interior vertical port communicating with said branch; and a reversingwalve, comprising two cylindrical members simultaneously slidable in said steam-chest, the first-of said members having a transverse port therethrough registering with said steam-inlet port in the normal position of the valve, and also having a longitudinally-extending spiral groove and a vertical, transverse groove; and said second member having a corresponding longitudinally-extending spiral groove; said steamchest having an interior vertical groove in the regionof said spiral grooves; said second member also having a port, with a portion thereof extending longitudinally of the member, registering with said exhaust-port in the normal position of said valve-member,

and a horizontal transverse port intersecting said longitudinally-extending portion of the aforementioned port; said first valvemember, upon movement, closing passage of the entering steam to the cylinder through said steam-inlet port in the steam-chest and bringing its said spiral groove into communication with said steam-inlet port and with said vertical port, and also bringing its said vertical transverse groove into register with said vertical port in the steam-chest which communicates with said branch; said second valve-member, upon movement, bringing its said spiral groove into communication with said exhaust-port in the steam-chest and with said other spiral groove through said vertical port in the steam-chest in the region of said spiral grooves, and bringing its said horizontal transverse port into communication with said vertical port in the steam-chest communicating with said branch of the steam-inlet port.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

CHARLES A. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

PAUL W. HERBERT, W. O. NIELSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

